Heat Exchangers

A heat exchanger is a device used to transfer heat from one fluid to another while preventing the two from intermingling. The three main types are shell and tube heat exchangers, air-cooled finned tube heat exchangers and plate heat exchangers. Generally, there is a metal wall partitioned between the two fluids that acts as a conductor. A hot solution flowing on one side of the barrier transfers its heat to a cooler solution flowing on the other side. Thermal energy only flows from the hotter to the cooler in an attempt to reach equilibrium. The surface area of a heat exchanger affects its speed and efficiency; the larger a heat exchanger surface area, the faster and more efficient the heat transfer.

Heat exchangers are typically constructed of steel, titanium, copper, bronze, Brass, stainless steel, aluminum or cast iron. One of the biggest problems heat exchanger manufacturers have to prevent is corrosion, which is common due to the constant flowing of liquid. Unfortunately, this is very difficult to avoid. To help prevent this, tubing must be resistant to general corrosion, pitting, stress-corrosion cracking (SCC), selective leaching and oxygen cell attack in service. Some heat exchanger designs use fins to provide greater thermal conductivity, which also helps.

Whether in commercial or industrial use, heat exchangers are vital as energy and money saving devices since most mechanical, chemical and energy systems requires heat transferal of some sort.

Custom heat exchangers perform a crucial role in the design, operation and maintenance of heating and air-conditioning systems, vehicle design, power plants, refrigeration, chemical and industrial engineering systems. They are also important in settings such as food processing, industrial engineering processes, pharmaceutical, pulp and paper and the steel industry. All power generation industries need them. Other industries that use heat exchangers include aerospace, chemical, marine, semiconductor, petrochemical, electronic, automotive, water treatment facilities and textiles. Heat exchangers are useful to almost everyone.